The Friends support the work of the public library system in Albany, NY.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Cong. John Conyers to Speak in Albany on Sunday March 29th on Single Payer Health Care for All

Faith Groups to Speak to the Moral Right to Health Care *

*Albany, NY- Congressman John Conyers will be in Albany for a Congressional Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, March 29th from 2-4:30 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 262 State Street in Albany (1/2 block west of State Capitol). *

The Town Hall Meeting, sponsored by the Albany Presbytery, is one of ten nationwide meetings funded by the Presbyterian Church USA to open discussion of Single Payer Health Care for the United States. A major focus of the event will be the moral right of all Americans to have health care. Faith representatives will participate in a panel discussion, including Chandlee Gill of the Albany Presbytery, Dr. Richard Propp of the B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation (Albany) and Yussouf Mir of the Islamic Center of the Capital District. A representative of the Methodist Church will also speak.

Congressman Conyers is the lead sponsor of HR 676, the US National Health Care Act, Single Payer Medicare for All bill in Congress. The bill, which would replace private health insurance with a single public financing system to provide comprehensive coverage for everyone in the nation, has the most support of any universal health care proposal now in Congress. It also is the plan that is most favored by the American public, doctors, nurses and researchers. Congressman Conyers participated in the recent White House Forum on Health Care to advocate for Single Payer Health Care.

Single payer legislation is also pending in both houses of the NYS Legislature and a state study on various universal health care options is due shortly after the budget is released.

Congressman Paul Tonko, a co-sponsor of HR 676 also will participate in the Town Hall Meeting. Governor Paterson, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and Representative Hinchey also have been invited.

Dr. Andy Coates of the Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) Capital District Chapter will answer some of the basic questions regarding single payer health care.

1 comment:

jacksmith
said...

Finally, the time has arrived to fix Americas Healthcare crisis, and Americas healthcare nightmare. Hundreds of thousands of you are killed needlessly every year by your healthcare delivery system in a rush to profit. And because of a rush to profit Hundreds of thousands more of you are needlessly dying from treatable illness that people in other developed and civilized countries don't DIE! from. Rich, middle class, and poor alike. Insured, and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies.

Additionally, thousands more of you are driven into financial ruin, and bankruptcy just because you, or one of your loved ones got sick or injured. And all of this is happening at a time when America spends twice as much of it's GDP (Gross Domestic Productivity) on health care than any other country in the developed world. Individual Americans spend about ten times as much on health care as any other people in the developed world. This is a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. AND IT MUST END!

But before we can truly fix this healthcare crisis and disgrace, everyone needs to clearly understand what the problem is. And everyone needs to clearly understand the real enormity of the problem. The problem is that HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY IN AMERICA IS SEVERELY CORRUPTED AND COMPROMISED BY GREED! AND THE PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MOTIVE. And it is corrupted, and compromised IN EVERY ASPECT, AND EVERY PLACE OF HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY. Unfortunately for all Americans, compromised healthcare ALWAYS results in needless suffering, injury, disability, and or death. Which is exactly what is happening now in America in shocking numbers.

Health care is NOT! a private for profit business. Healthcare is an essential public service. Like police, and fire. And healthcare is also a human right! PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE IS AN OXYMORON, AND AN IMMORAL AND UNETHICAL PERVERSION OF HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

So how do we fix this healthcare disgrace? I believe the fix for Americas healthcare disaster is essentially the same thing that every other developed country in the World has essentially done. "NOT FOR PROFIT, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED, SINGLE PAYER, AUTOMATIC, FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FOR ALL". Essentially HR676 (enhanced, and improved medicare for all). Just like every other CIVILIZED! country in the developed World has. There is no other way to truly fix and reform our current disastrous healthcare delivery system.

All Universal health care systems work best when everyone participates. But I know that the healthcare lobby, and some politicians will try and undermine "Not For Profit, Tax payer supported, Single payer, Automatic, Free Universal Healthcare for all" by falsely claiming that it will limit your choice, and require you to participate.

So, I propose that everyone be included in the national plan unless they choose to opt out. If you opt out and need medical care the national plan will insure your provider that they will be reimbursed under the rules for members in the national plan. But those who opted out, and their insurer will be responsible for the FULL! cost to the national plan for providing your care if you or your private insurer fails to reimburse the provider or the national plan in a timely manor to at least the standards of the national plan.

Including reporting you to credit agencies, withholding of taxes, leans, and garnishment of wages for unpaid medical bills. Just like you have now under private for profit healthcare, and private for profit health insurance.

Further, people who opted out will be required to provide proof of financial responsibility for future illness or be required to participate in the national plan. And everyone with children will be required to participate in the national plan. Or provide proof of insurance coverage on each child to the standards of the national plan. It will be against the law to report anyone in the national plan to a credit agency for unpaid medical bills.

Frankly, only a dope would want to opt out of the national plan and opt to keep our current disastrous private for profit medical, and insurance plans. But they will be free to choose. The most important thing is that the vast majority of Americans that want the protection, benefits, and higher quality of a universal national plan have that choice.

You see, one of the most important aspects of a universal healthcare system is easy access, and patient protection. This is accomplished by having a single payer without a conflict of interest in patient care. And by having a payer who has the power to enforce minimum standards of excellence in healthcare delivery for everyone in the plan. This is much of what Medicare does now for senors. "Aeger Primo" (The patient comes first). Unfortunately in our healthcare system the patient comes last. We are just a peace of meat to them. Cash cows to be slaughtered for profit.

So this is IT! my fellow Americans, My fellow human beings, My fellow World Citizens. And my fellow Cyber Warriors. :-) The time has come. D day. H hour. HEALTHCARE REFORM THIS YEAR! Let no one stand in our way. Contact your representative and tell them you want "Not For Profit, Tax Payer Supported, Single Payer, Automatic, Free Universal healthcare for all. And tell them you want that choice now. Tell them you want President Obama's budget passed without delay. President Obama's budget is brilliant. And exactly what is needed now.

President Obama, and his allies will need all the support you can give them. The healthcare lobby will try to take out his people if they can, like they did with Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer. And they will try to neutralize President Obama's popularity, and political power. Or they will try to take him down someway. Don't stand for it. If they attack him. Go after them ten times harder and remove them from office. We had an election. And you the people chose President Obama's leadership, and change agenda. Let no one in government disrespect the will of the American people and remain in office.

SPREAD THE WORD! And talk it up with your families, friends, and coworkers. Keep ratcheting up the pressure until there is a ROAR! across America for "NOT FOR PROFIT, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED, SINGLE PAYER, AUTOMATIC, FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FOR ALL".

Let's get this healthcare reform done now my fellow Americans. This year. Take no prisoners.

Pages

Thank you for supporting the library budget

The Friends of the Albany Public Library thank you for voting YES on the library budget in 2016.

Welcome

The Friends of the Albany Public Library have meetings several times a year, to which the public is always invited. 5 :00 to 6:00 pm Place: Community Room 1 on the second floor of the Main Branch, APL.

Book reviews and other events every Tuesday at noon in the Main Branch.

Quote

"I must say that I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on,I go to the library and read a book."

Consider a Gift to the Annual Appeal

The Albany Public Library changes lives, answering life's most complex questions and serving as the public's destination for social, intellectual and cultural discourse.

As our world changes, Albany's libraries face new challenges with increased demand for more books, materials, and programs housed in aging and outdated facilities.That's why your annual contribution is so important.

Your gifts to the library though The Albany Public Library Foundation means the difference between adequate libraries and great libraries. With private support, we can expand our collections and services to include more of what customers want in materials, technology, and programs.

So, look for the Annual Appeal information in the mail.We thank you.

Donations can be sent to Albany Public Library Foundation, 161, Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12210.Credit Card contributions can be processed by calling 518-427-4346.